Doing Medical Transcription From Home?

Hi, I do medical transcription from home. I had worked in-house for a big hospital system here in Portland, Oregon, for about 10 years. They were running out of office space and wanted to close the transcription department; therefore, offered us the opportunity to work from home. It's wonderful! However, don't think your time is your own. We (50 of us at last count) signed contracts, our office space at home was inspected, and we had to be meeting/exceeding all production/attendance standards set out by the hospital, just as if we were going into the hospital to work. We "clock in" and "clock out" by phone using a code given to us by the hospital payroll department.

Because there are no interruptions at home with phone calls, co-workers talking, etc., production is up for all of us and the hospital loves it. They encourage people to work from home. I find that during breaks I can put in a load of laundry, fold laundry, start dinner, and do a lot of the little chores that don't get done when I have to work in-house.

The hospital supplied a dedicated line into my house and a computer. All work comes via the computer, no tapes, etc., nothing to pick up, deliver, or print. If anything goes wrong I have a number to call and they will send someone out to fix the problem.

All in all, I've worked from home for the last 7 years and it has been so nice. I can sit on my deck in the summer for lunch or walk to the mailbox in the sunshine. The one thing I learned early on is that you can't take phone calls. Friends and family have to be made aware that you are working and that you can't chat endlessly to them. I likewise don't answer the door. You also have to be very structured in your approach. I get up, swim for an hour at the local pool, come home, have breakfast, and go to work, just as if I were working in the hospital.

During my 7 years there have been several people who have lost their jobs because they could not discipline themselves to meet expectations.

This is long but hope I have given you some helpful information.

susan
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January 8, 20080 found this helpful

I'd check into doctor's offices and hospitals in your area to see how they do their transcriptions. One office I worked in did have a person who did theirs, another did not (the doctor personally wrote his note in each file). An office where I go now is completely computerized and the doctor types the notes in each patient's electronic file during the visit --personally, I think this is going to be the only way it will be done soon, and the job of transcriptionist will go wayside.

lalala...
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January 3, 20080 found this helpful

I am interested in doing Medical Transcriptionist work using the Olympus AS 2300 at-home system. I am looking into doing this (starting out) on a part-time basis. I have done this type of work for companies in the past. I will keep my full-time job and do this on the side. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Sonandem from Virginia

Answers:

RE: Doing Medical Transcription From Home

Have you asked at your local doctor offices? I think that if you are in or close to small towns, they may appreciate using a local experienced person that may cost a little less than other outsource companies. I think hospitals and major clinics do this in-house, but not sure. I would start with your own practitioner or local doctors first.

By Kelly

RE: Doing Medical Transcription From Home

I am a legal secretary, and I save LOTS of time and keystrokes by storing a lot of legal phrases and terminology in Autocorrect (Word). If I were doing medical transcription, I would use Autocorrect by plugging in a few-letter abbreviation to stand for medical terminology that I would be using a lot. If you haven't used it, give it a try. I think Wordperfect has something similar. (05/17/2006)

By Alice

H. MacCallum

January 7, 20080 found this helpful

I know a lot of stay at home moms that run Ebay businesses from home, including myself. You can make it as big as you want, work whatever hours of the day that you want (in the middle of the night if you want to) and take as much time off as you need if family life gets too busy or you want to go on vacation. You can dabble in whatever products interest you...just about anything is offered on Ebay. All you need is email and a bank account to get started. Its fun.

Mindy

January 8, 20080 found this helpful

I have a friend who tried to do Medical Transcritpion from home but did not get enough steady work to meet her needs. We both now work as Independent Contractors with a business called Procard International. Go to: www.procardinternational.com and use updated access code: MELINDAK0322 .If you have any questions, e-mail me at: procardmelinda2004@yahoo.com

Thank all of you for your responses, it has been so helpful! You guys are great! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks

There are medical dictionaries that you can download onto your computer to help with the difficult words, medical terminology, and medications. I got mine at booksamillion. they are expensive but worth the money. I am trying to go full time with this. Hope everything turns out ok.

Hi, I've been working from home as a transcriptionist for the past three years. Certainly can be done. Contact me if you want any advice or pointers. gpaynter @ telkomsa. net (take out spaces). We've even started our own forum about how to go about doing this, and I've got an e-book on sale, "Working From Home as a Transcriptionist in South Africa". Get in touch if you or anyone reading this would like to.